CHRIS Harrison has his sights on the Guinness Book of Records after winning the annual Redgate Coal Race for the seventh time.

Part of the Padfield Plum Fair, the race involves carrying a 25kg sack of coal 150 metres up Redgate, which has a one-in-four gradient and is reputedly Glossop's highest hill.

Hadfield software salesman Chris, 32, of Hadfield Road, completed the race in 33.83 seconds, beating a field of 20 runners which included just one solitary female.

He has now won the event seven times since 1999 - which was the first year he entered the race.

This year for the first time teams were eligible to enter and three runners from the Masons Arms pub were victorious.

Yet another triumph for Chris means he now has seven handsome coal sculptures as his prizes and jokes that his house insurance is costing a fortune due to the increased fire risk!

He added: "Entering the race gives me a good excuse to keep fit. I'm now in training for a similar race in Goldthorpe village in Yorkshire on Easter Monday next year, when runners have to carry twice as much coal as the Redgate race - 50kgs - for 1,000 metres through the village.